AutoInfluence is excited to report some breaking news: the minivan still exists in 2026. While the family-focused segment has lost a significant share of its customer base to traditional SUVs and crossovers, minivans have actually seen a bit of a bump in recent years. Sales have been buoyed by a new generation of Millennial parents […]
Author: Matt Dodge
Between spending Father's Day at the local race track and watching NASCAR in his grandparent's living room, Matt Dodge has long been fascinated with all things automotive. Matt has worked at a variety of business magazines, daily newspapers, and trade publications while making time for some unique side hustles, including stints as a tour guide and pedicab operator. Quirky tales from automotive history and helpful how-to guides are some of Matt's favorite topics, though his own D.I.Y. efforts have largely been limited to keeping his 1999 GMC Savana from imploding and removing the backseat of his Honda Accord to make more room for surfboards.
Timing Is Everything: Toyota’s EVs Surge as Others Struggle
Over the last decade, Toyota has been something of an outlier in the EV segment. While other brands have rushed headlong into all-electric vehicles, Toyota has taken a more measured approach. In fact, the automaker unveiled its first EV in 2023 with the debut of its first “Beyond Zero” (bZ) model, the bZ4X compact crossover. […]
Honda Sets Up Camp With New Base Station
Honda has upped its off-road profile as of late, equipping popular SUVs like the Passport and Pilot with new TrailSport trims, adding rugged, adventure-ready upgrades like all-terrain tires, skid plates, an off-road stability management system, and an off-road-tuned suspension with improved ground clearance. These models allow drivers to spend the day exploring new territory and […]
Stellantis Pulls the Plug on PHEV Models
Stellantis raised a few eyebrows in early 2026 with the announcement that it was axing its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. It’s a major reversal on the part of the world’s third-largest automaker, which, as of late 2025, actually led the segment, with the Wrangler 4xe representing the market’s most popular PHEV. Stellantis isn’t alone. Other […]
How the Chevy Traverse Came to Dominate the Three-Row Segment
The three-row crossover class is one of the industry’s most competitive segments, but the cream always rises to the top. Just take the Chevy Traverse for sale. The popular SUV has quietly become America’s bestselling three-row, FWD model, logging more than 100,000 sales through the third quarter of 2025. That number sees the Chevy outpace […]
Worth the Wait: The All-New 2027 Kia Seltos
Don’t look now, but the race for the industry’s best subcompact crossover just got a whole lot tighter. The segment has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years as drivers gravitate toward the smaller end of the SUV spectrum, and Kia has capitalized on this with the Seltos. First introduced in 2021, the Seltos has quickly […]
As the F-150 Lightning Strikes Out, Ford Experiences an EV Reckoning
Ford shocked the automotive world in late 2025 when it announced that its groundbreaking F-150 Lightning would abandon the EV approach in favor of a new, more hybrid-like extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) design. It’s an unexpected move from Ford, but the Lightning’s cancellation is just one part of a massive organizational shift that’s seeing the […]
AI, EVs, and LFP: Tracking Trends In Our 2025 Year In Review
As the late 20th-century poets Smash Mouth once said, “the years start coming, and they don’t stop coming.” It’s easy to get a little overwhelmed by the never-ending march of time, but as 2025 recedes into the rearview mirror, we thought we would take the opportunity to catch our breath and look back on some […]
Get a Glimpse of the Future With Our Favorite Concept Cars of 2025
From Paris and Geneva to Detroit, Chicago, and New York, the annual “Big Five” auto shows act as a sort of gas-powered Fashion Week, allowing brands to give drivers a sneak peek at upcoming vehicles and stir excitement for the coming year. While many of these models may eventually make their way into the market […]
Here Lie the Discontinued Cars of 2025
Spooky season might be in the rearview mirror, but we’re still feeling a bit macabre over here at AutoInfluence. As the jack o’lanterns rot on the front porch and the kids start to ask where all of their Halloween candy disappeared to, we thought it would be a good time to pay our respects to […]
Low-CARB Diet: How Emissions Standards Are Changing the Automotive Menu
The Dodge Durango’s high-performance R/T and SRT Hellcat models are both prime examples of high-performance design, allowing drivers to burn some rubber and become closely acquainted with the back of their headrest as they rocket from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The range-topping Durangos are powered by a set of beefy 6.2 and […]
As a Popular Ford SUV Makes Its Escape, What’s Next?
Drivers will have one less option to choose from at their local Ford dealership next year as the brand discontinues its popular compact SUV, restricting drivers’ hunts for a Ford Escape for sale to the used market. However, this could actually be a promising sign of things to come from the Big Blue Oval. While […]
Ford Goes Futuristic With New EV Platform, Production Process
Ford revolutionized an entire industry by popularizing the assembly line approach to automotive construction. Now America’s most productive brand is looking to bring that same innovative approach to the EV segment as part of a substantial $5 billion investment. While the automaker has been at the forefront of the modern EV wave with models like […]
Hit the Road With Our EV Route Planning Guide
Like so many aspects of modern life, a good EV road trip starts with a visit to the app store. While EV charging stations are becoming a common sight on highways and byways across the US, those embracing the new generation of all-electric vehicles still need to do a little extra planning if they hope […]
Kia Corners the Three-Row Segment With the 2025 Telluride
If you’re looking for a three-row SUV that can keep pace with your busy lifestyle, the 2025 Kia Telluride checks all of the boxes. Seating for up to eight passengers? Check. 87 cu.ft. of cargo room? Check. All the towing capacity needed to haul your camper or boat up to the lake for a weekend […]
How Is the Nissan Rogue So Fuel Efficient?
The Nissan Rogue is known for its smooth ride, modern style, and refreshingly upscale interior. Still, few drivers realize that the compact crossover also stands out in terms of efficiency. While Rogue’s sole 1.5L I-3 engine might initially seem a bit unassuming, Nissan has leveraged a long list of cutting-edge technology to give the compact […]
Will Toyota Take a Great Opportunity to Spice Up the Camry?
While Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) models like the GR Supra and GR86 are staples of the brand’s U.S. lineup, 2025 marks the first time the North American market will be treated to one of Toyota’s GR Sport trims. From the subcompact Yaris and Corolla to the C-HR crossover and Hilux pickup, Americans have been missing […]
Strike Payload Paydirt With the GMC Sierra 1500
GMC applies its famous Professional Grade ethos to every corner of the Sierra 1500. While the truck’s 420-hp 6.2L V8 is a perfect example of this approach, it’s certainly not alone. From the tires and trailer hitch to its available skid plates and lifted suspension, the Sierra 1500 represents one of the most well-rounded pickups […]
Five Reasons to Choose the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder
The 2025 Pathfinder is sure to grab any driver’s attention when they’re browsing the selection at their local Nissan dealer. From its potent 3.5L V6 with a maximum output of 295 hp to its 6,000 lb towing capacity to its opulent interior that includes an available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and heads-up […]
Put Me in Coach: Exploring One of the Industry’s Most Unique Door Designs
In the auto world, certain features are naturally linked to high-end luxury or performance models. These components immediately distinguish rarefied rides from their mass-market competitors, from carbon fiber and retractable spoilers to open-pore wood, glistening rims, and electrochromic glass roofs. While some can be quite subtle, others proudly announce themselves every time you enter or […]